Softball: Virginia’s five-homer day leads to 8-5 win, series sweep at Pitt

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Posted on Monday, Mar. 27, 2023, 9:03 am

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Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Photo: UVA Athletics

Virginia hit five home runs, including going back-to-back twice, as the Cavaliers downed Pittsburgh by a score of 8-5 on Sunday. The Hoos (23-10, 4-5 ACC) swept the weekend series with the victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Katie Goldberg delivered a two-run shot to left center in the first to get the scoring started for the Hoos. Jade Hylton scored on the play after opening the game with a single and stealing second.

Pitt (14-14, 0-6) answered in the bottom of the inning, scoring on a wild pitch with runners at the corners before a double to right brought the second run home to tie the game at 2-2.

Virginia jumped back in front in the second with a two-run home run to left center from Gabby Baylog followed in the next at bat by a solo shot to right center from Hylton to take the lead to 5-2. The Cavaliers then went back-to-back again in the fifth inning with a two-run shot from Tori Gilbert followed by a solo home run from Abby Weaver to extend the lead to 8-2.

Pitt cut into the lead in the seventh with a three-run home run from Yvonne Whaley before the Hoos would get out of the frame and lock up the victory.

Courtney Layne (2-0) picked up the win in 6.0 innings of work, allowing three runs – two earned – on three hits with a walk and four strikeouts.

Abby Edwards (4-7) took the loss, allowing the five runs on five hits with a walk and three strikeouts in 1.1 innings of work. She was the first of three Pitt pitchers on the day.

NOTES

  • With the win, Virginia is now 18-10 all-time against Pittsburgh and improved to 5-7 in games at Pitt.
  • The Hoos had five home runs in a game for the first time since the 2018 season (vs. UMBC 3/3/18).
  • UVA had back-to-back home runs for the third time this year and first since game two vs. Radford (2/28/23)
  • Layne worked a season-long 6.0 innings with her relief appearance.
  • Savanah Henley made her first start of the season and first for UVA since Florida State (4/2/22) last season.

FROM HEAD COACH JOANNA HARDIN

“It was great to see everyone come out and go to work. Putting up those five runs early really allowed us some comfortability going into the second half of the game. Courtney Layne did a good job coming out and shutting things down, mixing speeds well and keeping the hitters off balance. Sunday games are a boxing match of toughness and fight. It will be great to get home to get some rest and then go back to work for a tough North Carolina team next weekend.”

UP NEXT

Virginia returns home for a three-game series against North Carolina that begins on Friday with a 6-p.m. first pitch at Palmer Park. It kicks off a stretch of seven-consecutive home games for the Cavaliers.